Colorado Bans Fur Sales
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission overturned the agency director's previous denial and voted to support a statewide ban on fur sales. The commission also approved further rule-making on the issue, reflecting shifting wildlife management priorities. This decision will likely impact fur trappers and hunters who participate in the fur trade across the western U.S.
The 6-4 vote by the Parks and Wildlife Commission to advance the fur ban petition followed a contentious public meeting where 120 people signed up to speak and extra security was required. The decision went against the formal recommendation of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staff and Director Laura Clellan, who argued there was no solid evidence that commercial fur sales were leading to an unsustainable harvest of furbearer populations. Proponents of the ban, including the Center for Biological Diversity which filed the petition, argue that allowing for-profit sales of wildlife violates the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. They point out that 16 of the 17 furbearer species in Colorado can be trapped in unlimited numbers, with no mandatory reporting on how many are killed each year, making population data difficult to track. Opponents, including the Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association, contend the ban is based on ideology rather than science and undermines the state's professional wildlife managers. They also highlight that Denver voters rejected a similar fur ban, Ordinance 308, by a 58% to 42% margin in 2024. The ban targets the commercial sale, barter, or trade of pelts and parts from 17 furbearer species, including bobcats, foxes, beavers, and coyotes. However, it would not prohibit recreational trapping for personal use. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, CPW sold 19,620 furbearer permits, which generated just under $200,000 in revenue for the agency. The fur trade was a foundational industry in Colorado's history, driving exploration and the establishment of trading posts like Bent's Old Fort in the 1830s. A "second fur trade" boom occurred in the mid-20th century, with Colorado becoming a national leader in farm-raised mink and fox pelts before demand declined in the 1970s. If enacted, Colorado would follow in the footsteps of California, which became the first state to ban the sale of new fur products in a law that took effect in 2023. That ban is expected to significantly impact the U.S. fur market, as federal data showed nearly a quarter of all the nation's fur sales occurred in California. The approved petition now moves into a formal rulemaking phase. CPW staff will draft specific rules for the ban, which will then be brought back before the commission for final consideration. This topic is expected to be on the agenda for the next commission meeting scheduled for May 6-7, 2026, in Grand Junction.
